The University of Miami celebrates 100 years of creativity, collaboration and innovation
During the past century, the University of Miami has grown from a tiny university in South Florida to a globally recognized leader in academia, research and healthcare. From cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facilities to student influencers and sororities setting the fashion trends for the rest of the country, the UM we know today is ahead of its time. With that said, let’s travel in time with an ode to our history.
The UM success story began 100 years ago on April 8, 1925, when Coral Gables developer George E. Merrick and a group of prominent residents chartered UM. Based on UM’s first, quaint mission — to offer “unique opportunities to develop inter-American studies, to further creative work in the arts and letters, and to conduct teaching and research programs in tropical studies” — we cannot imagine residents envisioning that 100 years later UM would be considered the gold standard by many in education.
According to university and other local historical accounts, the first class of UM’s 646 students enrolled a year later at The Anastasia, an unfinished hotel building at the intersection of University Drive and Camilo Avenue. Although construction of the Merrick Building was underway on the designated campus site, financial setbacks halted construction. There was also the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 that made matters worse at the beginning of the new school year. The university leased the building and quickly installed cardboard room dividers to create separate classroom spaces. The building was casually known as “Cardboard College,” and classes were held there until the Memorial classroom building was completed in 1946.
With more than four decades of leadership at UM, Patricia Whitely, senior vice president for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement, said she has seen the ups and downs of UM during its rise.
“Where we were in the ’80s versus today is remarkable,” said Whitely, who began her career at the university in 1982 as a residence coordinator.
From the tireless efforts of its founders, presidents, administrators and faculty to the extraordinary accomplishments of its students, athletes and alumni, UM continued to lay the foundation for what has become one of the most recognized private universities in the country, UM administrators said.
Today, with 19,593 students, 2,049 faculty members and 200,000 alumni, UM celebrates its centennial year with recognition for its extensive achievement. As one of the newest members of the Association of American Universities, an organization of 71 leading research institutions, UM is considered the gold standard in American higher education. Only three percent of four-year institutions nationwide are invited to join the AAU. Additionally, UM boasts several specialty rankings listed in the 2024-25 edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best National University rankings, including a national ranking of 63.
“Since air conditioning, the GI Bill and our recognition as a member of the Association of American Universities, we’ve seen a significant rise in status, recognition and rankings,” said Whitely, who is also an alumna after receiving her doctoral degree in higher education leadership from UM.
For alumni like Jill Singer, a 1973 journalism graduate who had a decades-long career in journalism, the university’s transformation is striking. Reflecting on her time at UM, Singer credits the university for priming her for a career that began as the first paid intern at The Miami Herald and led to stints at established publications, including The Washington Post and People Magazine.
“UM created a foundation for a career I am very proud of,” Singer said.
But it wasn’t just academics that made a lasting impact on her; it was the changes she experienced as a female student in the ’70s.
“When I was a student, the opportunities for women were very different,” she said. “The highest honor at UM, the Iron Arrow, was only awarded to men back then, even if a female student was more accomplished.”
Singer said she took action, writing a column in The Miami Hurricane questioning the policy. In 1976, the Iron Arrow Honor Society was sued for violating Title IX, the 1972 federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and other educational programs that receive federal funding. The federal government forced UM to disassociate from the society until it allowed women to join. In 1985, the honor society passed a motion to allow women.
Singer also noted how much student life has changed since her time at UM.
“When I was at UM, there were no co-ed dorms, curfews were strictly enforced and we had to sign in and out for everything,” said Singer. “It’s funny to think about now, but those rules reflected the societal norms of the time.”
However, the strict housing rules did not stop Singer from finding her happily ever after. She said she met her husband, Howard Singer, a psychology major, at the campus Hillel. The couple celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary in January.
Singer’s personal anecdotes serve as a reminder that while UM has undergone significant changes, the spirit of student involvement and campus culture has remained constant. Singer said she praises the students of today and encourages them to get involved in campus activities.
“There are so many opportunities to join clubs, internships and social groups,” said Singer. “And with Miami as the backdrop, it’s the best city in the U.S. to attend college. It doesn’t get better than UM.”
UM students’ commitment to involvement is evident in Jake Chisholm, a first year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in advertising on the creative track. In addition to being a Foote Fellow Honors Student, Chisholm is a President’s 100 ambassador, which are handpicked, academically talented students who maintain UM’s vibrant and lively spirit at recruitment events and campus tours.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be here at the U for our centennial anniversary,” said Chisholm. “This is obviously a huge milestone for our university, one where we reflect on our history, and I am excited to celebrate the people who made this school what I enjoy today.”
As the university continues to become a major player in higher education in the U. S., Student Government President Roy Carrillo Zamora said that the student voice should be at the center of decision-making.
“I see Student Government continuing to be at the forefront of student advocacy on campus,” Carrillo Zamora said. “For 100 years, Student Government has been pushing back when needed, and championing progress when achieved. The next 100 years will be shaped by the bills that our senators write, the lobbying that our executive officers engage in, and all the internal work that our members dedicate their time to, from our judicial branch to our four agencies.”
Whitely said the celebratory centennial theme, “The Future is U,” demonstrates UM’s commitment to its students and their success.
“This is an opportunity to look back at all we’ve achieved and look forward to all that’s yet to come,” said Whitely. “We have only just begun to realize the impact UM will continue to have in the next 100 years.”
words_mary-grace cardelle, layla jackson-yanez & julia manafort. photo_valentina gomez. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Spring 2025 print issue.
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